The safe operation of vehicle lifts
Part two
Published: 03 May, 2022
In the second part of our series from the GEA, the process of actually buying and having lifts installed is the focus
When buying a vehicle lift, you need to know that the equipment meets all legal requirements, and that the company selling it to you is meeting all their obligations.
Lifts used for MOT work must meet DVSA’s minimum size requirements for the class of vehicles to be tested. For advice on this, please ask a GEA member. A full list of members who supply MOT equipment can be found on the GEA website.
Meanwhile, all machinery sold within the European Community must also meet Directive 2006/42/EC, otherwise known as the Machinery Directive. Most products and some lifting equipment, such as engine hoists and jacks can be certified that they meet the directive by the equipment’s manufacturer, agent or supplier. However, Annex 4 of the Directive requires that vehicle lifts used for the servicing of vehicles must have an EC-type examination by a Notified Body.
The Notified Body will check that the vehicle lift either satisfies the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) of the Directive or that the lift manufacturer has followed the requirements of BS EN1493 in its entirety. On completion of the conformity assessment process, the manufacturer, agent or supplier should prepare a Declaration of Conformity and apply a CE mark to the equipment. The Declaration should include details of the Notified Body (four-digit identification number) who has undertaken the EC type-examination and the assessment method, either EN1493 or the EHSRs.
A piece of advice: Always ask to see proof that the lift you are thinking of purchasing has been CE marked (post-Brexit UKCA marked) and is certified by one of the Notified Bodies. Doing so will ensure that the testing mark/certificate is genuine and that the lift has been manufactured to European standards. All certificates will contain both the name and number of the Notified Body and a certification number. Please note that all Notified Bodies must be based in Europe. A word of warning; Just because a lift carries the CE sticker, never assume it has been tested and certified. It is easy for a manufacturer/ importer to simply add a sticker to a product. To avoid problems, always opt for a GEA member supplier.
Installations
When it comes to vehicle lifts, the installation work is as important as the manufacturing process. However, this work is often conducted by an installation and maintenance company and may be out of the direct control of the lift manufacturer. All lifts, apart from mobile lifts, rely on correct foundations and installation. Therefore, the British Standards Institute (BSI) has produced a standard for vehicle lift installation known as BS 7980.2003+A1:2012, which has become the lift engineer’s bible.
Another piece of advice: Always have your lift installed by a GEA-accredited lift engineer who understands all the regulations and standards and follows the correct guidance and procedures provided by the lift manufacturer.
Note: After a vehicle lift has been installed into a workshop it must be independently inspected and certified by a competent person to meet the HSE Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulation (LOLER). This is a requirement of the owner-operator, not the installer, as installers cannot check/certify their own installation work.
For more information visit: www.gea.co.uk
- The safe operation of vehicle liftS
In the first in a new series from the GEA, the focus is on vehicle lifts and what types are available
- Part two The good and THE GREAT
In part one, we looked at the start of the ‘diagnostic process.’ The first steps were customer questioning, confirming the fault and knowing the system and its function. These help the technician to build the ‘big picture’ necessary to repair the vehicle correctly.
In this article we will look at the next four steps.
Step 4: Gather evidence
It is easy to overlook this step as many technicians think of it as the overall ‘diagnosis.’ However, once the technician understands the system, gathering evidence will provide key information. This step is normally best carried out with the use of test equipment that does not mean the dismantling of systems and components.
Many technicians have their own favourite tools and equipment but this list can include (but not limited to)
the following:
Scan tool – It is always best practice to record the fault codes present, erase the codes, and then recheck. This means codes which reappear are still current. Remember that a fault code will only indicate a fault with a circuit or its function. It is not always the component listed in the fault code that is at fault
Oscilloscope – An oscilloscope can be used for a multitude of testing/initial measuring without being intrusive. Some oscilloscope equipment suppliers are looking at systems within high voltages hybrid/electric vehicle technology. The waveforms produced by the test equipment can be used when analysing the evidence and may indicate that a fault exists within a system. An understanding of the system being tested will be necessary to understand the information. This may even include performing sums so all those missed maths lessons at school may come back to haunt you. It may take time to become confident analysing the waveforms, so be patient
Temperature measuring equipment – This can include the use of thermal imaging cameras. Most systems that produce energy/work will also produce some heat. The temperatures produced vary from system to system. Examples include everything from engine misfires to electrical components, as well as air conditioning system components and mechanical components such as brake and hub assemblies. The possibilities are endless and results can be thought provoking.
Emission equipment – By measuring the end result, an exhaust gas analyser can show you if the engine is functioning correctly. The incorrect emissions emitted from the exhaust help indicate a system fault or a mechanical fault with the engine
Technical service bulletins – Many vehicle manufacturers produce technical service bulletins (TSBs) that are generated by a central point (usually a technical department) from the information that is gathered from their network of dealers. Some of these may be available to the independent sector either through the VM or through a third party – It’s always worth checking if these exist. They may indicate a common fault that has been reported similar to that the technician is facing. Some test equipment suppliers may provide TSBs as part of a diagnostic tool package
Software updates – Many vehicle systems are controlled by a ECU. Most vehicle manufacturers are constantly updating system software to overcome various faults/ customer concerns. Simply by updating the software can fix the vehicles problem without any other intervention of repairing a possible fault. This is where having a link to a vehicle manufacturer is vital in repairing the vehicle
Hints & tips – Most technicians will have a link or access to a vehicle repair forum where they can ask various questions on vehicle faults and may get some indication of which system components are likely to cause a vehicle fault
Functional checks – Vehicle systems are interlinked and typically share information using a vehicle network. The fault may cause another system to function incorrectly, so it is vitally important that the technician carries out a functional check to see if the reported fault has an effect on another system. By carrying out this check the technician again is building the big picture
Actuator checks – Most systems today are capable of performing actuator tests. The technician can perform various checks to components to check its operation and if the system ECU can control the component, often reducing the time to the diagnosis, by performing this task the technician can identify whether it is the control signal, wiring or component or it is sensor wiring. This function can be used in conjunction with serial data to see how the system reacts as the component functions
Serial (live) data – The technician can typically review a vehicle system serial data through a scan tool. Having live data readings to refer to can help you review the data captured. Using actuator checks and viewing the serial data can also help the technician to identify a system fault
Remember to record all the evidence gathered so it can be analysed during the next step in the diagnosis. We can’t remember everything. If the technician needs to contact a technical helpline they will ask for the actual readings obtained recoding the data gathered will help.
Step 5: Analyse the evidence
Analysing evidence gathered during the previous steps can take time. The technician needs to build the big picture from all the evidence gathered during the first few steps. You need to analyse the information gathered, and decide on what information is right and wrong.
This step may rely on experience as well as knowledge on the product. You should take your time – don’t be hurried. Time spent in the thinking stages of the diagnosis can save time later. Putting pressure on the technician can lead to errors being made. It may be necessary to ask the opinion of other technicians. If the evidence is documented it may be easier to analyse or share between others.
Step 6: Plan the test routine
After analysing the evidence gathered it’s now time to start to ‘plan’ the best way to approach to the task or tasks in hand.
The technician should plan their test routine, decide on what test equipment should they use, what results are they expecting, if the result is good or bad and which component should they test next.
Document the plan – this enables you to review decisions made at this stage in the next step. The technician may not always get it right as there may be various routes to test systems/components. The test routine may have to be revisited depending on the results gathered during testing. Documenting the test routine will provide a map. Also, don’t forget to list the stages, as this is something that could be incorporated into an invoicing structure later.
The technician should indicate on the routine what readings they expect when they carry out the system testing. This can be generated by their own knowledge/skill or the expected readings may come from vehicle information which they have already sourced. If the information is not known at the time the test routine is planned, then the test routine may highlight what information is required and what test equipment is needed. You shouldn’t be afraid to revisit the plan at any time and ask further questions on which direction the tests should take. If the plan is well documented and the technician becomes stuck at any point, they can pause the process and revisit later. Also the information can then be shared with various helplines that support workshop networks.
Step 7: System testing
The technician then follows their pre-determined plan, if it is documented they can record the results of the test(s) as they follow the routine.
Many technicians tend to go a little off-piste when they get frustrated. Having the routine documented can keep the technician on track and focused on the result. If the routine is followed and the fault cannot be found the technician may have to go back to the analysing the evidence or planning the test routine. The technician shouldn’t be scared of going back a few steps, as I said previously analysing the evidence takes practice and can be time consuming, not to be rushed.
Summing up
Remember to follow the process. It is easy to be led off track by various distractions but don’t try to short circuit the process. Some steps may take longer than first thought to accomplish than others. Some distractions may be outside of your control, and it may be necessary to educate others. Practice, practice, practice. Refine the process to fit in with your business and its practices, the business could align its estimating/cost modelling to the process, being able to charge effectively and keeping the customer informed at each stage of the process.
Coming up...
In the next article I will be looking at the next four steps which are; Step 8: Conclusion (the root cause), Step 9: Rectify the fault and Step 10: Recheck the system(s). The last article in this series will indicate the final three steps and how to fit them all together in order to become a great technician and perhaps succeed in Top Technician or Top Garage in 2018.
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